Targeting a hike in freight loading to 580 million tonnes from 550 million tonnes last year, Railways is eyeing a six per cent increase in earnings through goods to Rs 28,745 crore (Rs 287.45 billion) this fiscal from Rs 27,115 crore (Rs 271.15 billion) in 2003-04.

Freight loading at 550 million tonnes last year exceeded the Budget Estimates of 540 million tonnes but due to less than targeted yield per million tonne of traffic output, the earnings of Rs 27,115 crore (Rs 271.15 billion) was Rs 700 crore (Rs 7 billion) lower than the Budget Estimate of Rs 27,815 crore (Rs 278.15 billion).

With nearly 45 per cent of the total tonnage being that of coal, commensurate earnings from freight loading of the commodity will amount to Rs 11,939 crore (Rs 119.39 billion) or 41.5 per cent of the total earnings from transportation goods.

Rail-freight earnings are largely related to demand-supply scenario of the various segments of industry and trade including steel, coal, cement, iron-ore and pig-iron, fertilisers, grains and petroleum, oil and lubricants.

While earnings from coal, pig-iron, iron-ore, cement and 'other goods' is estimated to increase, that from raw material to steel plants, foodgrains, fertilisers and POL are pegged to fall.